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Kristín Vala Ragnarsdóttir copresident of the Balaton Group.

Kristín Vala Ragnarsdóttir, dean of the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences of the University of Iceland has been elected copresident of the Balaton Group.

The International Network of Resource Information Centers, more commonly known as "The Balaton Group," is an international network of researchers and practitioners in fields related to systems and sustainability. Founded in 1982 by Dennis Meadows and Donella Meadows—co-authors of the ground-breaking book "The Limits to Growth"—the Balaton Group is a cross-disciplinary, multi-cultural, and inter-generational meeting point for leaders and thinkers in sustainable development.

Formally, the Group holds an annual meeting once every year. The annual "Balaton Group Meeting" brings together 50 leading scientists, teachers, consultants, writers, and managers in a multi-disciplinary, collaborative environment that encourages debate and learning founded on the highest scientific standards, free of political and economic pressures.

Since its founding in 1982, Balaton Group members have consistently advanced the boundaries of research and strategy for sustainable development. Over 30 books, more than a hundred conferences, and uncounted computer models, training programs, planning methods, and educational games have emerged from collaboration among its members.

Membership in the Balaton Group is by invitation only.  For further information, please explore our website, or write to one of the members listed in the "Members" section.

See more on balatongroup.org.

Photo: Kristín Vala Ragnarsdóttir, photogr. Guðrún A. Tryggvadóttir.

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Ófullnægjandi aðbúnaður varphæna

Framkvæmdastjórn Evrópusambandsins gaf í dag stjórnvöldum í 13 ESB ríkjum lokafrest til að bæta lífsskilyrði varphæna. Ella yrði gripið til lögsóknar að tveimur mánuðum liðnum.

Könnun hefur leitt í ljós að sjöunda hver varphæna í Evrópu - 47 milljónir af 330 milljónum - er látin hýrast í búri, sem er ekki stærri en vélritunarblað. Samkvæmt lögum frá 1999, sem gengu í gildi um áramót, ber eigendum varphæna að sjá til þess að þær hafist við í nógu rúmgóðum búrum til að þær geti hreiðrað um sig, klórað sér og sofið á priki.

Löndin sem hafa fengið lokaviðvörun eru Belgía, Búlgaría, Grikkland, Spánn. Frakkland, Ítalía, Kýpur, Lettland, Ungverjaland, Holland, Pólland, Portúgal og Rúmenía. Samkvæmt lögunum sem gengu í gildi 1. janúar verður óheimilt að flytja út og selja í smásölu egg frá þeim sem ekki virða lögin um aðbúnað varphæna. Heimilt er að nota eggin í iðnaði. Til viðbótar við löndin sem hafa fengið lokaviðvörun eru Bretar til sérstakrar athugunar.

Ljósmynd: Gunna hæna, Guðrún Tryggvadóttir.

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Blái marmarinn 2012

Geimferðastofnun Bandaríkjanna birti nýja gervitunglamynd af Jörðinni í gær. Upplausn ljósmyndarinnar er mikil og sýnir jörðina í áður óséðu ljósi.

Það var Suomi NPP gervitunglið sem náði myndinni. Gervitunglinu var skotið á loft seint á síðasta ári. Því er ætlað að fylgjast með og rannsaka veðurfar jarðarinnar.Myndin er kölluð „Blue Marble 2012" og er það vísun í ljósmynd sem geimfarar Apollo 17 geimskutlunnar náðu af jörðinni árið 1972.

Vonast er til að Suomi NPP gervitunglið eigi eftir að endurbæta veðurspár ásamt því að auka skilning vísindamanna á langtíma breytingum á veðurfari Jarðarinnar.

Hægt er að skoða myndin í fullri stærð á heimasíðu NASA.

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Food Democracy Now!

On January 31, family farmers will take part in the first phase of a court case filed to protect farmers from genetic trespass by Monsanto’s GMO seed, which contaminates organic and non-GMO farmer’s crops and opens them up to abusive lawsuits. In the past two decades, Monsanto’s seed monopoly has grown so powerful that they control the genetics of nearly 90% of five major commodity crops including corn, soybeans, cotton, canola and sugar beets.

In many cases farmers are forced to stop growing certain crops to avoid genetic contamination and potential lawsuits. Between 1997 and 2010, Monsanto admits to filing 144 lawsuits against America’s family farmers, while settling another 700 out of court for undisclosed amounts. Due to these aggressive lawsuits, Monsanto has created an atmosphere of fear in rural America and driven dozens of farmers into bankruptcy.

Please join us in standing up for family farmers everywhere against Monsanto's abusive seed monopoly.

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